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Labeling mix-up led to unneeded hysterectomy, lawsuit says
AP News • • health
Key Points:
- Cassandra Barksdale of Atlanta alleges she was wrongly diagnosed with aggressive uterine cancer due to a tissue sample labeling error at Kaiser Permanente, leading to an unnecessary full hysterectomy in May 2025.
- The error was discovered in September 2025 when DNA analysis revealed the cancerous tissue belonged to another patient, not Barksdale, who had initially sought treatment for fibroids and heavy bleeding.
- Barksdale experienced significant emotional distress, including depression and making funeral plans, after believing she had cancer for months before the mistake was uncovered.
- Kaiser Permanente acknowledged the error, stating they have implemented measures to prevent future incidents and are working with Barksdale to resolve the issue fairly.
- The lawsuit filed in Georgia seeks unspecified damages, highlighting the irreversible physical and emotional harm caused by the misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery.
